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Some members of the House and Senate want to make citizen-led initiative petitions more difficult to enact, particularly after Missouri voters approved a laundry list of progressive changes at the ballot box in recent years.

“Whether it’s requiring a higher threshold to amend the constitution or mandating that ballot measures receive support from multiple regions across the state, the legislature must be called back to address this issue, as well,” Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance, said in a statement Tuesday.

At the same time, a coalition of progressive groups is developing ballot language aimed at stopping lawmakers from changing the state’s initiative petition process, which has resulted in the restoration of abortion rights, an expansion of Medicaid and a paid sick leave law that since has been dumped by Republicans who control state government.

Under the Respect Missouri Voters proposal, the organizations are seeking approval of a plan via a vote of the people to bar the General Assembly from proposing or passing any changes to voter-approved initiatives without an 80% bipartisan vote in favor in both chambers.

The plan also would prohibit lawmakers from putting any constitutional amendments on the ballot that would make the initiative and referendum process more difficult.

Additionally, the proposal would require simpler ballot language so voters understand what they are being asked to approve.

The proposed constitutional amendment, however, would not be on the ballot until 2026, giving Republicans a window to enact their own limits on the process, possibly during a special session on redistricting.

That possible special session has been pushed by the White House. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe has not formally said he will call a special session of the Legislature, but has indicated interest in taking up Trump’s challenge.

GOP legislative leaders also have expressed support for redistricting aimed at creating seven favorable Republican seats in Congress. Republicans currently hold six of the state’s eight congressional districts.

The idea to use a special session on redistricting to also alter the constitutional amendment process is part of a long-running Republican priority. The GOP has watched Missouri voters elect Republicans to local and statewide office, but also favor initiatives that do not align with Republican positions.

Under existing law, any constitutional amendment takes effect when approved by a simple majority of voters statewide. Many of the recent questions that won approval have enjoyed heavy support in the state’s blue-leaning urban population centers, while not faring as well in Missouri’s red rural regions.

During the regular legislative session that ended in May, Republicans were unable to advance plans aimed at raising the threshold to change the Constitution.

Some GOP lawmakers want to give rural Missouri a greater say in the process by requiring passage not only statewide, but also in six of the state’s eight U.S. congressional districts.

Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, wanted to require overall statewide approval, but also a simple majority of the votes cast in the majority of Missouri’s 163 state representative districts.

Inaction over the GOP push comes after Democrats in the Senate blocked similar changes by mustering a 50-hour filibuster at the end of the 2024 legislative session.

The filibuster may not be a useful option for Democrats in a special session after Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, employed a rarely used parliamentary procedure to shut down debate in May.

O’Laughlin’s decision to use what is described as a ‘nuclear option’ in the tradition-bound Senate was hailed by Republicans who believe leaders were not flexing enough muscle, but it triggered calls for payback from Democrats in the minority, including a pledge to block major policy initiatives when lawmakers return in January.

Schroer, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, said he is fine with using that tool to force a vote on reforming the ballot initiative process.

“Missourians are demanding that their elected officials work together, emboldened by actual leadership within our party, to secure our constitution immediately. Let’s not keep disappointing them,” Schroer said.